Touch-regulator for piano-keys



H. BELL AND E. H. LENZ.

TOUCH REGULATOR FOR FIANO KEYS.

ATTORNEY.

H. BELL AND E. H. LENZ.

TOUCH REGULATOR FOR PIANO KEYS.

v APPLICATION FILED .IULY II 1919- 1341035, Patented May 25, 1920.

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PATENT QFFICE.

HARRY BELL AND ERNST EENRY LENZ, OF EVANSVLLE, INDIANA.

TOUCH-REGULATOR FOR PIANO-KEYS.

Speccation of Letters Patent..

Patented May 25, 1920.

Application filed July l1, 1919. Serial No. 310,087.

T0 all whom t may concern Be it known that we, HARRY BELL and ERNST H. LnNZ, residing at EvansvilleLin the county of Vanderburgand State of lndiana, have invented new and useful lmprovementsin Touch-Regulators for Piano- Keys, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to pianos, particularly to the keys thereof, and has for its object the provision of a key which is provided with means whereby its sensitiveness may be varied for adjusting the touch so that a light or heavy touch will be required to operate the key, depending upon which is desired.

An important object is the provision of regulating means of this character which may he used upon the keys of pianos already in use and constructed as an attachment therefor or which may be built into the keys to take the place of the ordinary weights employed.

Another object is the provision of a touch regulator of this character in which the adjustment may be very delicately regulated.

An additional object is the provision of a device of this character which will be comparatively simple and inexpensive in manufacture and installation, highly efficient in use, durable in service, and a general improvement in the art.

With the above and other objects and advantages in view, the invention consists in the details of construction to be hereinafter more fully described and claimed, and iilustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure l is a plan view of a piano key showing one form of our device applied thereto and constructed merely as an attachment,

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view,

Figs. 3, d, 5 and 6 are similar views of modiiied forms in which our device takes the place of the weights ordinarily em ployed,

Fig. 7 is a in Fig. 6,

Fig. 8 is a cross sectional view on the line S-S of Fig. 2, and

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the form of weight shown in Figs. 6 and 7.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, and specially the form shown in Figs. 1, '2 and 8, the letter A designates a piano plan view of the form shown key of the usual construction carrying at one end the finger engaging ivory portion B and carrying at its other end the capstan screw. At this second named end the key 1s provided with the usual Weights D. The key is pivoted intermediate its ends upon the usual rocking screw E.

In carrying out our invention we provide a support formed of a pair of L-shaped staples 10 which have their vertical legs threaded into the body of the key at equal distances from the fulcrum screw E at opposite sides thereof. The horizontal arms of these staple members are threaded and are arranged in alinement. Threaded upon these horizontal arms is a weight 1l which is adjustable longitudinally of the arms and which is formed preferably of lead. rlhis weight is formed preferably angular in cross section or else has its periphery knurled or milled to facilitate engagement of the lingers thereupon for eifecting turning movement.

l-Vhen the weight 1l is positioned with its center immediately above the fulcrum screw E it will be seen that the touch of the key will depend entirely upon the weight l). TWhen it is desired to regulate the touch it is merely necessary that the operator grasp and rotate the weight ll so as to effect longitudinal movement thereof to a position either forwardly or rearwardly of the fulcrum screw F. rlhe adjustment will of course depend upon the degree of movement of this weight and it will be seen that when the weight is disposed rearwardly of the screw E it will require a heavier touch to actuate the key and that when the weight is moved to be disposed forwardly of the screw F a lighter touch will actuate the key. This form of the device may be used upon pianos already in existence and is constructed as an attachment.

The remaining figures show forms of the device adapted to be built into the keys of new pianos, to take the place of the weights commonly used. ln Fig. 3 the key is shown as provided at its rear end and on its underside with a recess l2 longitudinally of which extends a threaded rod 1B upon which is movable the weight l-i. In this forni the weight lll takes the place of the ordinary weights and adjustment is edected by moving the weight longitudinally upon the rod 13 so as to vary its distance from the fulcrum screw E.

In Fig. 4 We make use of a support identical in construction to that shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and this support is located at the rear end of the key and includesthe staple members 15 upon the horizontal arms of which is threaded the weight 16. Adjustment of this form is identically the saine as the form shown in Fig. 3.

In Fig. 5 the rear end of the key is shown as provided with a recess 17 which is in clined and which extends entirely through the rear extremity of the key. A support 18 is employed having a vertical arm 19 terminating at its upper end in a penetrating tine 2O driven into the rear end of the key. The long arm 21 of this support is threaded and has its point 22 driven into the key at the forward end of the recess 17. rIhe arm 21 of the support is threaded and carries a weight 23. Adjustment in this form is identically the same as in the two preceding forms.

In Figs. 6, 7 and 9 we have shown a somewhat different form of adjusting means. In this form the key A has disposed upon the top of its rear portion a flat weight 24: having enlarged ends 25. rIhis weight is provided with a longitudinal slot 26 through which pass clamping screws 27 threaded into the key. In this form adjustment is made by loosening the screws 27 and sliding the weight :Ztlongitudinally toward or away from the ulcruin, as desired, after which the screws are tightened.

From the foregoing description and a study of the drawings it will be apparent that we have thus provided a very simple and inexpensive means for regulating the touch necessary to actuate a piano key, the means being so constructed that great delicacy of adjustment may be effected with the utmost ease.

While we have shown and described the preferred embodiments of our invention, it is or' course to be understood that We reserve the right to make such changes in the form, construction, and arrangement of parts as will not depart from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claim.

Having thus described our invention we claim A touch regulator for piano keys comprising the combination with a piano key provided at the underside of its rear end with a recess, a support member formed as a rod having one end provided with a penetrating point driven into the wall of the inner end of the recess and having its other end bent and rebent at right angles and terminating in a penetrating point driven into the outer end oi the key7 and a weight threaded upon said rod and adjustable 1ongitudinally thereon.

In testimony whereof we aHiX our signatures.

I-IARRY BELL. ERNST HENRY LENZ. 

